LSU sophomore safety Dashawn Spears put on a show on Saturday night in Death Valley. First, Spears collected his first career interception in the first quarter off Florida quarterback DJ Lagway. Then, he picked off Lagway again midway through the third quarter, this time in the form of a 58-yard pick six. The play sent Tiger Stadium into a frenzy and put LSU's 20-10 victory on ice.
In total, the Tigers picked off Lagway five times in the win. Led by Spears' efforts, the Tigers moved to 3-0 on the season and maintained their No. 3 ranking in the Week 4 AP Top 25 Poll. They also picked up a crucial win to start SEC play. Now, Spears is racking up the accolades for his breakout performance.
Dashawn Spears earns multiple recognitions after sensational game vs Florida
On Monday, the SEC announced that Spears was named Co-Defensive Player of the Week in the conference. In addition to his two interceptions, Spears collected two tackles and played a major role in holding Florida scoreless in the second half. Furthermore, LSU's stifling defense didn't allow the Gators to penetrate past the 30-yard line in the second half. Alabama safety Bray Hubbard also earned Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors for Week 3.
In addition to earning SEC honors, Spears has been named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week. It's the second time this season that an LSU defensive back has been recognized for this national award, as CB Mansoor Delane earned the honor in Week 1 against Clemson.
Spears is the former No. 1 safety in Louisiana and four-star prospect from Denham Springs High School. He doesn't start for Blake Baker's secondary, but was sure to make the most of his opportunities on Saturday night.
The LSU defense has been much-improved in Year 2 under Baker, and currently boasts a scoring defense that is among the best in the country. Through three games, the Tigers rank second in the SEC and11th nationally by allowing just 9.0 points per game. LSU also leads the SEC by allowing just 56.0 rush yards per game. Spears and the Tigers are back in action this Saturday, Sept. 20 with a home tilt against Southeastern Louisiana at Tiger Stadium. Kick-off is slated for 6:45 p.m. CT.